The most exciting part of the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has nothing to do with playing the game

Nintendo's upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 has generated excitement not just for its stunning visuals and gameplay, but also for its soundtrack. During a recent press event, I had the chance to play around an hour of the game, and the new orchestral arrangements caught my attention. The full orchestral version of every song from the original game is what I was most looking forward to, and Nintendo didn't disappoint.

The demo included four areas from the original game: Kokiri Forest, Hyrule Field, Hyrule Castle Town, and The Forest Temple. Each theme in the remake remained faithful to the original, using real-life instruments instead of synthesized ones. None of the music deviated significantly from the original direction, but the Castle Town theme added an extra layer of ocarina, which worked well.

Hyrule Field's theme was particularly triumphant and adventurous, while the Forest Temple's music maintained its creepy atmosphere, contributing to a haunting experience. The iconic, understated title screen theme, available on the Nintendo Music app, remained just as confidently quiet, signaling the greatness to come.

Overall, the new soundtrack is a beautiful addition to the remake, respecting the original vision while sounding even better to my ears. With just the Gerudo Valley theme left to release, I couldn't ask for more.